Poker chip stand



Sept- 25, 1951 R. B. MOYER 2,569,324

POKER CHIP STAND Filed'July 15, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. ROBERTB. Mona-R.

GLM? M ,4T TOR/VE Ys.

Sept. 25, 1951 R. B. MoYER POKER CHIP STAND 3 Sheets-Sheeil Filed July15, 1946 JNVENToR.

RoER-r Moran.

sept 25, 1951 R. B. MOYER 2,569,324

POKER CHIP STAND Filed July 15, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet :5

Ross/e1' B. Move-R.

www? MV TTORNEKS.

Patented Sept. 25, 1951 4 "UNITED STATES FA''EPJ'I"V OFFICE i 2,569,324v o l POKER CHIP s'rAND I Robert B. Moyer, Los Angeles,7Calif`.Application July 15, 1946, Serial No. 683,687

` holder,.display rack and dispensing. device; or the like.

Prior art devices .have been-knownzin .which storage racks areassociated with `stationary or rotatable stands'into whichfsuchracks maybev swung during a period of'lnon-use. Moreover a large assortmentofpOkerchip stands andV equivalent devices exist for the purpose ofstoring poker chips or other. articles in 1a convenient manner,Y usuallyin racksor stands designed for placement upon a playing table or similarloca-f tion. 1.

In all of the above and other conventional devicesof roughlyvanalogous.purpose to that intended by the instant invention, none is knownutilizing a central control. mechanism which is actuatable by a vsinglemovement in one direction forthe purpose of .moving the storage racksuniformly outwardly from a place of coniine-V ment within the stand tova selectedpositionof convenientuse and vice versa. 1n the devicespresentlyknown it is. necessary to..actuate :a

mechanism in a firstv direction for the purpose of making the storedVarticles accessible and' in a second direction for confining the racksand contained articles withinV their associated stands.

Furthermore, lnone of ythe conventional'. devices intended to fulll vthegeneral purposes 'ofthis invention embody comparable features of.convenience, effectiveness and simplicity of design. All= operationsare also calculated to be extremely simple, smooth anduniform, butwithout'detracting from a. desired economy in .the-construction of theapparatus and the ready assem-v bly of itsparts either on a massproduction basis orotherwise. l r..

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a storage deviceand/or display rack utiflizing a single unidirectional manipulatingmeans either for the purpose of making a plurality of various articlesintended to be stored within any number of VAstorage lracks associated.therewith readily accessible, or, optionally, storing an hiding themfrom view.,

.It is afurther object of this invention ',to.-pro. vide av stand of thecharacter described incorporating storage racks of new and improveddesign.

It is another object to provide a utility stand of new and improvedconstruction having simple manipulative mechanism for alternatelyV butvsimultaneously enclosinga plurality of storage racks within the standor turning said racks si 5V claims. (ci. al1- 49) multaneously outwardlyfrom said stand for convenient access, use, replacement or display ofarticles intended for storage in said racks.

It is a further object to provide a newv and improved utility rackassociated with a new and improved operative mechanism by which` anynumber of storage racks associated therewith may be releasably held in adesired position within the stand or pivoted outwardly in a convenientmanner therefrom.

Another further object is to provide a novelty stand of the desiredcharacter in association with a newand improved unidirectional actuatingan clutch mechanism. i f

It is a still furtherobject to provide an apparatus ofthe characterdescribed associated with a new and improved impulse and momentumcontrol means for any number of storage racks associated therewith.

A still further object is to provide a novel association of handle andcover means for the stand as well as for any number of storage spacesprovided therein; f

p It is also an object to provide a new and improved storage rackconstruction including a mounting means for use in a utility stand ofthe character described. f

It is another further object to .provide a utility stand of new andimproved construction which can be readily and economically manufacturedand conveniently-assembled or disassembled for repair or replacement ofparts.

Yet another objectis'to providea new and improved rotatable platformconstruction for use with a stand ofthe character described.

It isalso an object to provide improvements uponmechanisms associatedwith prior art devices having a like purpose.

Withrthese and other objects .in view, the invention consists in theconstruction, arrangement and combination of the various'partsof theapparatus whereby the objects contemplated are attainedas hereinafterset forth,.pcinted out in the appendedA claims. .and illustrated in the-accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a pokervchip stand embodying this invention.

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure l but with the handle covers inanalternative position.

Figure 3. is a vertical sectional View on the line 3 3 of-Figure 1. i

Figure 4 is aplan `sectional view on the line 4.-4v of Figure V3. l

,Figure 5 is a detail view 'of Athe handle and cover hinge constructiontaken on the line -5 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a detail view of the button clutch mechanism in an initialoperative position.

Figure '7 is a vertical section on the line '1 -'l Figure 8 is a view ofthe clutch mechanism of Figure 6 in 'a position of extreme clockwiserotation of the control button.

Figure 9 is a vertical lsectional view similar to Figure 1 taken on theline 9-9 of Figure 8.

Figure 10 is a view of the clutch mechanism in an operative positionsubsequent to that illustratd in Figures 8 and 9. ,y

n Figure 11 is a fragmentary view similar to Figure 4 showing the racksor columns ina soc'alled dead center position of their Alinks betweentheir position as illustrated for the closed position in Figure 4 andthat illustrated'for the open position in Figure 12.

Figure 12 Vis a view similar to Figure 11 showingfthe columns in theiroutwardly extended open position.

Figure 13 is a vertical elevational View of a modied form of mountingfor the stand.

In the drawings,l a stand generally designated by the numeral 'comprisesthe following stationary frame components: An upper, annular framemember 2|, a lower substantially disklike frame member 22,.-..and aicentral frame portion23 disposed between the upper and lower framemembers. These three relatively stationary frame members are securedtogether by vertical bolts 24.

Extending vertically through the central frame member 23'is a verticalrotatable shaft 25 journalled at its upper end in the' upper portion ofthe central frame member, as designated by the numeral 26. Keyed to theupper Yend of the shaft 25f'is aclutch disc 21 which is turnable about avertical axisv within the' upper end of the central framevv member 23,and keyed to the lower end of the same shaft is a control disc` 2'8formed with equally spaced` holes 29 around its outer marginscorrespondin'gin number and position to` any number ofY columns or thelike such as chip columns 3B. These chip'Y columns and the control discvmay be operatively connected together by meansV of individual links 3|in a manner hereafter' tobe described.

The chip columns 30Y areV preferably formed with a bore 32extendingvertically substantially throughout'theV length of the columns'and are further provided with a second smaller arcuate notch 33 attheb'otto'm'end thereof in a manner tof forma lower` shoulder or shelf34 enabling a pile ofk articles, such as' poker chips, to be stackedinthe bore within' the column in such amanner'thatthey may be'easilyaccessible for removal when the' chip columns4v are-'disposed outwardlywith respect to the frame as illustrated in Figure 12.

The columns 30 are pivoted' at. their upper extremities upon pins 35Vandk at' their-'lower extremities upon other pins 36, each ofthe lowerpins being preferably supported at. their ends upon frictionless bal-lbearingsv 31. Tlielinks 3| may be formed with upt'urne'dends 3|a whichmay be journalled respectively inthe' control 'disc 28 and the lowerends of the columns. The ends of thelinks which are journalled in thevcolumns are spaced circumferentially with respectl to the alxis of thepivot pins 36L as illustrated, for example, in Figure 4, where thecolumns areV in their most inwardly disposed-position within` the Cil 4stand or, as illustrated in Figure l12, where the columns are in theirmost outwardly projected open position.

Ignoring for a moment the operation of the clutch mechanism illustratedin detail, especially in Figures 3, and 6 through 10, the Inode of op;eration of the stand is as follows: A manually rotatable button 38 isdrivin'gly connected with the shaft 25 when the button is rotated in aclockwise direction. This result is accomplished through a clutchingmechanism which will be later described, so that upon an operatorsgiving the button an initial clockwise rotation, starting from theposition of the parts as illustrated in Figure 4, the shaft 25, thecontrol disc 28, the inner ends and the links 3| will be drawn in aclockwise direction, thereby giving the chip columns an initial impulseby virtue of which they begin to swing upon their pivot pins 35 and 36in a counter-clockwise direction outwardly, as'illustrated in Figure 11.Inasrnuch as, the columns, after bei-ngA thus set in motion, will havesome weight and momentum, they willcontinueto-r 'rotate' in. avcounterclockwise direction so as to pass the dead center position of thelinks 3|,. illustrated .in Figure 1-1 and assume their fully extendedoutward position, as illustrated in Figure 12.- This continued swingingmovement of the chip columns assumes, of course, that the button 38 hasbeen released or atleast doesf not retard the return orcounter-clockwise rotation of the disc 2B which obviously must occur ifthe columns are' to pass the dead center position of the' links 3|. Sucha release of the button 38 is accomplished through the clutch mechanismbetween and associated with the button and the clutchV disc 2'| whichwill be described hereinafter.

If, after the columns are outwardly extended as in Figure l2, the'button 38 is grasped and again turned initially in a clockwise directionin a similar manner asf above, a swinging movementofthe chip columnswilliv begin but this time in areversed or clockwise direction in whichthe columns 'willf be carried past the A`dead center position,illustrated ini Figure 11, and subsequently assumel their positionwithin the stand, as illustrated in Figure 4. In either case, the weightand momentum 1 'of` theirY VcontentsV and/or the chip columns willreadily carry thei'nY past the dead centerposition of the links.-

In order to assurev the: completion of an arc of approximately requiredto position the columns" and therefore also, necessarily, the disc 28`at their inward and'ou-tward limits, the disc 28 must'return from the'position illustrated in Figure 11 at which it is in' itslimit ofclockwise rotation to the" position illustrated in Figures 4 or 12, atwhich it is in its limit of counter clockwise' rotation.- Forthispurpose a leaf spring 401, for example, may belsec'ured'as Vby one ofrtsendsrtothe central frame member 23 and at thev other of its ends in apin 4| secured to the upper face` of the disc 28T.vr The spring 40 isformed so as yto normally urge the disc in a counter-clockwis'eAdirection, and in-so doing ob'viously aids the momentum of the chipcolumns iriftheir 'arcuate outward and inward movement so as to carrythem easily past the-dead center position? of the-links' 3|, saidposition being illustrated` in Figure 11.- A stop pin 42, or the like,secured in the frame at a predetermined position relative toA a.suitable abutment 'on 'the' revolv'ing parts li" ts the movement of thekdisc in its` counter-clockwise rotation and thereby positions of thecolumns in either direction of their movement.

Referring now to the clutching mechanism between the button 38 and theupper end of the shaft 25, the clutch disc 21, which is cooperablydisposed below the button, constitutes the driven clutch member. It iskeyed at its center to the shaft and is formed with a vertical arcuateslot therethrough, as most clearly illustrated in dotted outline inFigures 6 and 8. Said disc 21 is also formed with a cylindrical pocket46 disposed above and circumferentially aligned with the arcuate slot45. The pocket 46 isidesigned to loosely receive a ball 5U, asillustrated most clearly in Figures 3 and 7, and is preferably of adepth slightly in excess of one-half the diameter of the ball, so thatthe ball normally nestles down into the pocket for slightly overone-half its diameter and finds a lateral abutment against the normalsurface provided by the side walls of the pocket. The button, whichconstitutes the driving clutch member, also contains a cylindricalrecess 5| substantially corresponding in diameter and position to thepocket 46, but said recess 5| is of sufficient depth to entirelyaccommodate the ball therein, as illustrated in Figures 9 and 10.

Fixedly anchored by its lower end in the central frame member 23 andprojecting upwardly into the slot 45 so as to be freely movable thereinwhen the button 38 and disc 2l are rotated with respectto the centralframe member 23, is a key 52 having a slanted upper face 53 upon whichthe ball 50 may ride upwardly in a manner to remove the same from thelower pocket 46 and carry it into the'recess 5| in the button as whenthe button has been turned in a clockwise direction to a s'uicientextent. Said button is normally urged to a limitV of counter-clockwiserotation by means of a coil spring which is secured at one of itsextremities to `a portion 23a of the central frame member 23 and at theother of its extremities to a point 38a spaced from the center of thebutton. Y

Fromthis construction of the clutching mechanism, it may be seen thatupon initial` clockwise rotation of the button, as illustrated, forexample, in Figures 6 and '7, the ball 50 will rest in the pocket 46while also projecting for somewhat lessv than onehalf its diameter intothe abutment formed by the recess 5|, thereby the ball will be carriedaround with the button'until the ball reaches the key whereupon it willbe carried up over the slanted face 53 of the key and thence into theupper ,recess 5| in the button. At that point (see Figure 9) thedisc 21,theshaft 25 and its' associated control mechanism (which hasl also beensimultaneously carried around in` alclockwise direction by the clockwiserotation of the button) ,is free to return, in a counterclockwisedirection, as urged by the momentum ofv thechip columns throughv thelinksl and" also by means of the spring 40,l to a position determined bythe mutual abutment of the stop pin 42 in the frame and the pin `4| onthedisc.

lIt may be noted from the above description that it is desirable toretain the links and columns in constantly corresponding and equallyspaced positions relative to one another. For this purpose, a preferablyfloating spacer may be provided, such as an annulus 60, for example,rotatably slidable upon and encircling the lower end-of the centralframe member 23. The spacer contains 'suitably spaced openingsthereinfor' the spaced accommodation ofn each of the several links 3|,thereby assuring that the operation of all the links .will be uniform,simultaneous and in the same direction. Obviously, 'the columns willalso therefore be uniformly actuated and turned, -whereaswithout such asuitable spacer thepmovement of the columns might b'ev relativelychaotic and independent. VSuch a spacer, moreover, assists the movementas well as the retardation of movement of each column by the necessarilysimilar activation of every `other column. Other equivalent forms ofspacers, such as of stiff wire, etc., will readily occur to one skilledin the art of producing devices of this general character.

In addition, it may also be noted that the upper end of the stand ispreferably formed with arcuate covers 65 which may serve as handles whenpivoted upwardly upon hinges 66 vas illustrated in Figure 2.v A detailof the constructionof the covers and their` associated hinges appears inFigure 5 from which it mayreadily be seen that the handles are slottedat both ends to form rodlike pintles 10 rotatably confined within asuitably shaped` bracket 1| which may be bolted or otherwise-secured tothe top frame member 2|. When the covers 65 are elevated, as shown inFigure 2, the card pockets 68, intended for the storage of decks ofplaying cards or similar items. are revealed.

It is furthermore contemplated, as illustrated in Figure 1.3, that theentire stand may be mounted upon a relatively stationary circularplatform provided with a frictionless bearing assembly 8|, so that theentire stand may be rotatedV asa unit whereby any side may face anyselected direction.

Said platform -8I is formed with an upset central part 82 havingon itslower side an access hole 83. Axially, the platform is secured to thelower frame member 22 by means of a bolt 84 adjustable to any desireddegree of tightness through an adjusting nut 85. The tightening of thisnut draws a round-shouldered head 86 of the bolt downwardly against arecessed abutment 8l in the center of the lower frame member 22, wherebythe rtendency of the frame 20 to rotate with greater or lesser frictionindependently of the platform 80 may be adjusted.

-Around fits periphery the lower frame member 22 may be formed with anindependent flange 9|) substantially covering the platform 80 around itsexternal edge so that a pleasing appearance of an unbroken outline ofthe frame itself may be presented.

At the bottom of the frame in the embodiment of the inventionillustrated in Figures 1 through l2, or at the bottom of the platform inthe form illustrated in Figure 13, a suitable felt, rubber, or other padof soft, non-abrasive material 9| (or |60) may be applied for theobvious purpose of preventing injury to any polished surface upon whichthe stand may be placed.

VIt will therefore be seen thatV a stand of excellent appearance andconstruction adapted for the receptionl of any number of article-holdingracks or columns has-been provided in which a single control mechanismreadily and smoothly operates to control any number of rackssimultaneously.

It is not absolutely necessary in the practice of I this invention thata clutch mechanism be employed, as described, but such a feature iseminently desirable and when used constitutes a valuable portion of thenovelty and utility of theV apparatus. Thus upon actuation of thecontrol button invasingle direction, the racks turn in a V'desiredmannerv independently of thev facttha't theeoperator continues toretardthe return movement-'of the button, Nor isit necessary to operate thebuttonin two .distinct directions for the.purposeV of turning the racksin alternatedirectionsas :was heretofore the custom.v As hereindescribed, `the release and spring of the control button automaticallyreturnsto an initial vposition from which it may again initiate its'rack or column-operating. movement.

The-entire apparatus .has been devised .so that itis readily producibleby machine methods. For example, the links. may be insertedin positionwith or' without afxation to any vother member: except in 'a loose andeasily replaceable manner. YE-acl'rpart istherefore adapted to befabricated by.v means Vof Vregulation machine processes andthe-collective parts are further adapted to be assembled together in asuperimposed, intert-f ting relationship upon the tightening of a fewreadily accessible bolts. .It is not intended to limit this invention bythe use of any particular materials and while it. is desirable in somecases to construct the frame and trays or columnsv and other externalportions of the stand out of wood, these parts, as-.tvell.asthe shafts,discs, pins, and links, may be formedfrom any suitable material, `suchas metal', plastic, or the like; and the external parts maybe coveredwith. fabric or given any other desired iinish.

It isthe gist of this invention. to provide a utility stand speciallyadapted for the storage off various articles which may be contained inany number of racks rotatably. retractable' for storage or rotatablyextensible for convenient access, the holder. being readilytransportable. neat in appearance, solid in construction, and aotuablein a convenient and simple mann-er.;

While I' have herein-shown and described my invention in what I vhaveconceived to be the most practical and preferred'embodiment, it isrecognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of myinvention, which is-V not'to-be limited to the details disclosed herein,but is tobe accorded the full scope ofthe claims so as vto embrace anyand all equivalent devices.

The invention hav-ing been herein described, what is claimed and soughtto be secured by Letters Patent is:

i. A utility stand comprising weighted .member pivotally mounted in theframe von. a vertical axis, a link making a journalled connection at oneof its endswithf the weightedmember ata pointspaced vfrom `a rst side ofsaid vertical axis, control means associatedwith the other end of thelink actuatable forfinitially drawing the link in a given directionfrom. a .starting position of the weighted member. in a man-ner to givethe weighted vmember an initial rotating movement in said direct-ion,and resilient vstopmeans for limiting the rotation of said vv'eigl/ltedvmember .in said. directionv when one end of said link. has been. rotatedtheretosecondrside'of vsaid vertical axis, substntially.- opposite saidfirst side, said .resilient stopmeans being positioned between then-.amethe control means in a mannerv to return the control means to saidstarting position such that similar actuations of the control meansoperate to draw said one end of said link around said vertical axis vinalternately opposite directions.

2. A utility stand comprising a frame, a weighted member pivotall-ymounted in the a, .fran-1, a.

frame on'a vertical axis, a li-nk making ajouri nalledfconnection atlone Aof its ends with the weighted member at a point spaced from a irstside--fof`said vertical axis, control means associated with the otherAend ofthe link actuatable iorinitially drawing the link in a givendirection from' va start-ing position of the Weighted member asmanner togive the weighted member an initialrotating.movement inV said direction,reV silient stop means for limiting the rotation of said weighted memberin said' direction when said fonte fend of said link has been rotatedithere+ with. to axsecond side of .said vertical axis, substantiallyopposite said. first side, said resilient stop means being positionedbetween the frame ther'controlmeans in a manner to return the controlmeans to said starting position such that similar actuations of thecontrol means operate to draw said `one end of said link aroundsaidvertical axis in alternately oppositeY directions, andV a.Y clutchcontrolled manipulating means upon the control means adapted' to slipatter'a predetermined interval in the movement of themanipulating means,whereby the resilient means-may operate to, return the control means tosaid starting position independently of the manipulating means;

3. A utility stand comprising aAV frame. a weighted member pivotallymounted in the frame-on a verticalaxis, a linkV making a journalledconnection at one of its end-s with the weightedv member at a pointspaced from anrst side ofsaid. .vertical axis, control means associatedwith .the other end of the link actuatable for initially drawing thelink in a given direction from a starting position of the weightedmember in a manner to give the weighted member an initial rotatingmovement in said direction, and resilient stop means forY limiting therotation of. said weighted member in said direction when said one endofsaid link has been rotated therewith to a second side ofV saidvertical axis., substantially opposite said rst side, said resilientstop means comprising a relatively fixed abutment positioned in theframe, a movable abutment positioned on the `control means and a springanchored 'in lthe frame urging the abutment on theV control means in apredetermned direction towards the relatively xed abutment.

4: `A utility stand comprising a frame, a Weighted member vpivotallymounted in the frame on'. a vertical axis, Aa link making a journall'edconnection at one of its ends with the Weighted member Aat a pointspaced from a first side of said vertical axis, control means associatedwith the other end of the link actuatable for initially drawing the linkin a given direction from a starting position of the Weighted member ina manner 'to givethe weighted member an initial rotating movement insaid direction, resilient stop A'means for limiting the rotation ofrsaid weighted member in said directionA when saidA oneendof said linkhasbeen rotated 'therewith to'asecond side of said vertical axis,.substan-V tially ofnl'ositel said iirst side, said resilient stopmeansbeing positioned. between the frame and the control means in. amanner to return the controlmeans to .said starting position such thatsimilar. actuations of the control means operate to draw .said one endof said link. around said` vertical axis .-in. alternately oppositedirections, anda clutch vcontrolled manipulating means vuponthecontrol-.means adapted to slip after a precie term.inedinterval in-the'movement ofthe maraipulatingV means, whereby vtheresllient meansmay operate to return the control means to said starting positionindependently of the manipulating means, said control meansincorporating a rotatable actuating member secured to a driven clutchbody, said manipulating means comprising a rotatable driving clutch bodyadjacent to and axially aligned with the driven clutch body, each ofsaid bodies being formed with corresponding detents upon their adjacentfaces, keying means normally associated with said detents for keyingsaid bodies to one another, releasing means secured in the frame andadapted to release said keying means after a predetermined rotation ofsaid bodies in a predetermined direction in a manner to free the drivenbody from its keyed connection with the driving body, and a secondresilient means adapted to return said driving body to a startingposition wherein the bodies are again drivingly connected together bysaid keying means.

5. A utility stand comprising a frame, a weighted member pivotallymounted in the frame on a vertical axis, a link making a journalledconnection at one of its ends with the weighted member at a point spacedfrom a first side of said vertical axis, control means associated withthe other end of the link actuatable for initially drawing the link in agiven direction from a starting position of the weighted member in amanner to give the weighted member an initial rotating movement in saiddirection, resilient stop means for limiting the rotation of saidweighted member in said direction when said one end of said link hasbeen rotated therewith to a second side of said vertical axissubstantially opposite said rst side, said resilient stop means beingpositioned between the frame and the control means in a manner to returnthe control means to said starting position such that similar actuationsof the control means operate to draw said one end of said link aroundsaid vertical axis in alternately opposite directions, and a clutchcontrolled manipulating means upon the control means adapted to slipafter a predetermined interval in the movement of the manipulatingmeans, whereby the resilient means may operate to return the controlmeans to said starting position independently of the manipulating means,

said control means incorporating a rotatablev shaft, a clutch plateaxially secured to the shaft,

:a rotatable button axially aligned with the clutch plate, said plateand said button having adjacent faces each formed with a correspondingdepression, one of said depressions being of greater depth than theother, a detent normally resident in the depression of lesser depth andextending into the depression of greater depth, thereby rotatably keyingthe button to the plate, said depression of lesser depth having anarcuate slot in communication therewith, a key formed with a slantingface secured in the frame and adapted to ride in the slot during aninitial rotative movement of the button and further adapted to force thedetent out of the depression of lesser depth into the depression ofgreater depth, said latter depression being sufficiently large toaccommodate and release the button and plate for independent rotativemovement, and a second resilient means adapted to return said drivingbody to a starting position wherein the bodies are again drivinglyconnected together by said keying means.

ROBERT B. MOYER.

REFERENCES VCITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 48,769 Hammer July 11, 1865182,720 Starr, Jr Sept. 26, 1876 617,478 Cohen Jan. 10, 1899 783,477Strauss Feb. 28, 1905 912,087 Dempsey Feb. 9, 1909 958,475 Cannon May17, 1910 1,903,744 Heusser et al Apr. 11, 1933 1,921,652 Bohnert Aug. 8,1933 2,030,899 Scurlock Feb. 18, 1936 2,054,373 Erk Sept. 15, 19362,144,835 Dickinson Jan. 24, 1939 2,223,660 Horton Dec. 3, 1940

